Synchronizing mechanism



Otttt 21, 1941. K R MANvlLLE 2,259,527

fsYNcHRoNIzING MECHANISM Filed May l2, 1938 1 A y A Il* ai" @ya Q e ,./ATTORNI-EYSl Patented Oct. 21, 1941 y SYNCHRONIZING MECHANISM A neun a. Mamme, Highland Park, N. J., assigner to Mack Manufacturing Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporationof Delaware Application May. 12, 1938, Serial No. 207,468

s claims. (ol. 19a- 53) This invention relates to Vtransmissions and A particularly relates to synchronizingdevices'for facilitating the engagement of the clutch elements of transmissions.

synchronizing devices for transmissions are vwell known andgenerally consist of a pair of toothed clutch elements which are-movable into engagement and interposed synchronizing means,

generally of the friction clutch type, for bringing' the cooperating clutch elements to the same speed of rotation or into synchronism whereby the clutch elements may engage without clashing.

Some of these synchronizing devices are provided. vith balking or blocking mechanisms which prevent movement of the clutch elements into engagement except when the clutch elements are rotating at the same speed. These blocking devices may consist of members having inclined leading edges which cooperate with similar members associated with the shiftable clutch element to block movement of the shiftable clutch element when the clutch elements are not rotating at the same speed. When, due to engagement of the synchronizing mechanisms.' the clutch elements are brought to the same speed of rotation, continued pressure of the shiftable clutch element on the inclined faces of the blocking mem-A berswill cause the-blocking member to move and allow the clutch members to move into mesh or engagement.

Devices of the type ranged so that'the\synchronizing members normally are out of engagement but are shifted into frictional engagement upon shifting movement of one of the lclutch elements and upon engagement are rotated into blocking position. In order described above are arto produce the initial movement of the synchronizing mechanism, it is necessary to provide a' exible or disengageable coupling between the shiftable clutch element and the synchronizing and blocking elements which causes them to .move together until the synchronizing members engage and thereafter allows the shiftable clutch element to move independently of the synchronizing element and blocking means. The disengageable connection-introduces a resistance to 'movement of the shiftable clutch element and likewise increases the inertia of the entire device,

thereby rendering shifting and engagement of the clutch elements more difcult and-requiring a greater expenditure of effort to clutch or bring into engagement the clutch elements.

An object of this invention is to provide a mechanism for synchronizing the movement of the clutch elements of a transmission to facilitate their engagement and'whch is continually set to prevent engagement of the clutch elements except while the clutch elements are synchronized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for synchronizing the cooperating clutch elements of a transmission to facilitate their engagement and for preventing engagement of the clutch elements when they are not synchronized, and which is preset to prevent engagement of the clutch elements independently of any movement of the clutch elementsv into engagementl v Other objects of theinvention will become apparent from the description of typical forms of synchronizing mechanisms embodying the invention.

vention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, in'which Figure 1 is a view in section of a typical form of synchronizingand clutching device embody-V ing the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly broken away of a rotatable clutch element and blocking means;

Figure 3 is an end view of a toothed wheel on which the shiftable clutch element and the rotatable synchronizing member are u unted;

Figure 4 is a view in sect1 of Figure 3;y

Figure 5 is a view in vertical section and partly broken away ofthe clutch element or the syn- `chronizing element disclosed in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view in section taken on line 6 6 Y. of Figure;

Figure ,7 is a view in section and partly broken away of a modied form of synchronizing mechanism with the shiftable clutch' element removed;

Figure 8 is a side View` of a spring washer; Figure 9 isa sectional view of a modified form of device with the shiftable clutch element removed and partly broken away; and

Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 are sectional vand diagrammatic views showing the operation Voi the shiftable clutch and blocking member.

In the form of invention disclosed in Figure 1 the device may consistof a drive shaft I0 having thereon a gear Il and a clutch element I2 provided with peripheral teeth I3. A cooperating driven shaft. Il is also provided and has a reduced cylindrical end l5 which isreceived -in a roller bearing i6 mounted in a bore or cavity Il in the drive shaft I0. The driven shaft- I4 is provided with splines' I8 on which' is xedly mounted a peripheral toothed wheel I9 which has an internal splined'sleeve 20 encircling and f engaging the driven shaft l l. An annular clutch element 2l fhaving internal teeth 22 is shiftably mounted on the wheel I! for movement axially of the shafts Ill and I4. b' The shiftable clutch element is provided with an annular groove 23 which may receive an actuating yoke (not shown) in the-usual way. whereby the shiftable clutch For a better understanding of the present inchronizing m element 2| may be 'moved axially into engagement with the teeth I3 on the clutch element I2.

It will be understood that the construction thus far described may be used in conjunction with the usual countershaftingand may be combined with the gearing necessary to produce any desired number of gear ratio changes. This construction is not disclosed because it is well understood in the art. However, it should be understood that when the clutch element 2| is not in engagement. with the lclutch element |2 the shafts I and I4 usually areI operating at diierent speeds.

`The clutch element I2 may also be provided with a substantially annular synchronizing member 24 having -a conical outer surface 25 which is adapted to engage a complementary synchronizing member 26 having an annular surface 28a and a conical inner face 21. 'I'he synchronizing meniber 26 is supported internally of the wheel I9 and is capable of limited rotation relatively thereto. The extent of rotation of the synchro nizing member 26'is controlled by any suitable means such as a plurality of lugs 28 projecting.

axially of the wheel I9 which are received in notches 29 in the inside edge of the synchronizing 4member 28,.as shown in Figures 2', 3, 5 and 6. The synchronizing member 26 may be provided ableclutch element 2|, as shown in Figure 10.,

Y Upon movement of the shiftable clutch element 2| to bring the teeth 22 thereof into engagement d with the teeth 30 on the blocking or synchronizwith one or more blocking teeth which may be arranged singly or in groups around the periphery of a radially projecting ilange 3l on the synchronizing member. The flange 3| is of sufficient width to bring the teeth 30 into alignment ing member, the synchronizing members, foi' example, 24 and 26, are forced more tightly into engagement, as shown in Figure l1, thereby producing a strong lateral component of fo'rce which resists axial movement of the shiitable clutch member 2|. The increased frictional engageement between the synchronizing members 24 and 28 tends to bring the clutch element 2| into synchronism with the clutch element I2. When the clutch elements I2 and 2| are synchronized the axial pressure exerted by the shiitable clutch element 2| is suiiicient to overcome the lateral or rotary component of force exerted on the synchronizing clutch element 26, thereby rotating it sufficiently to allow the teeth 22 to pass between the teeth 30 on the synchronizing element, as shown in Figure 1 2. Continued movement of of the shiftable clutch element 2| causes the teeth 22 on the shiftable clutch element 2| to pass between and' engage the teeth |3 on the clutch element I2, thereby coupling the drive shaft tothe driven shaft, as shown in Figure 13. Y

The same series of operation takes place when it is desired to engagethe shiftable clutch member 2| with the clutch element 38.

While the synchronizing members are in continuous frictional engagement and there may be considerable slippage therebetween due to the.

' dillerent speeds, ofv operation of the drive and with the teeth on the wheel I9 and the internal teeth 22 on the shiftable clutch element 2|, and

are of a proper size to mesh with the teeth on the I shiftable clutch element 2|. The lugs 28 and notchesV 29 are so related in size that when the synchronizing member 26.is rotated in either direction to its limit 'of movement, theblocking teeth vIU are substantially in radial alignment with the teeth 22 on the shiftable clutch element 2|, as shown in Figure 10. As shown particularly inFlgure 2 and Figures 10 to `113, the teeth 30 are provided with inclined inner ends or surfaces 32 which during shifting of the clutch element-2| cooperate with incline'd or V-shaped en ds 33 on the clutch teeth 32.,`

.As illustrated particularly in Figure 1, the Vsynchronizing member 2l may' be retained continuouslyV in. engagement with the synchronizing' Y member 24 by means .of 'a series of light springs 34 which are mounted in the transverse bores l 5 in the wheel. Il and whicl bear against the annulan surface 26a ofthe synchronizing A.member 26. The opposite -ends oi! the springs I4 bear driven shafts, substantial wear and deterioration of the synchronizing members is prevented by the thin lm of oil which will be present between the faces of the synchronizing members. v`Another formof the invention is disclosed in Figure 7. 'I'he construction and operation of this synchronimng mechanism is substantially the same as that described above. 'Ihe Asynchronizing members 40 and I are maintained in engagement by means of spriig' washers 42 which are disposed in recesses 43 in the peripherally toothed wheel member 44, which is fixed on the driven shaft. -The spring washers bear against Vtheannular surface 40a lor the synchronizing member III) to maintain .a light frictional engagement between the synchronizing members /40 and 4|,which is sufcient to retain the rotatable synchronizing member 40 in'a position to block passage ofthe` shiftable clutch member, not shown, except when .the associated clutch ele-- ments are operated at the same speed.

In Figure '9 is disclosed another form of the --invention which consists of the peripherally against and resiliently. urgean oppositely disposed synchronizing. member 3l 'intoengag'ement with a complementary synchronizing member :1-

which is rotatably mounted by meansv of roller bearings 31 onthe driven shaft I4. The syn- A er I'I may have associated therewith a pe pherally toothed clutch member. 38 and an externally toothed gear 39 which may .be connected to suitable .countershafting to provide a' diiTerent gearlratio between the drive shaft ID and the driven shaft I4.

toothed wheel member and cooperating synl chronizingmembers 5I and 52, the latter being into engagement with the face of the The resilient pressure of the spring urior- I' tionof the drive shaft or ofthe gea` 39, the syn- A chronizing -members 28 and 38 are set in such'a position that the teeth I0. thereonn are. sub tan'- tially axially aligned with the teeth oi the tmallyeretains the synchronizingmemben'sfll and 24 and .the synchronizing members` ll and ,31. in,y

'1 light irictional engagement whereby, upon rota-- I 4rotatably and axially shiftably mounted on the wheel member 5l and provided with blocking- .teeth which are normally disposed substantially in alignment with 4a shiftable clutch ele ment (not,shown). Light frictional engagement between the clutch elements is produced b y means gnccx-*more plungers 54 vslidably mounted in sses 5I in the vclutch elementi! and urged synchro' nizing memberv I by means of a light coil spring II. In this co Y tion sumcient frictional en Basement is obtained by contact of the plunger I4 with the face ef the synchronizing member Il to. preset the blocking teeth 53 into a position in substantie; alignment with iheieetn on the smitable clutch element.- f The constructionsdescribed.- above have "the advantage that a preliminary movement of the shiftable clutch element is not required to move the teeth on the synchronizing members into-a position to block movement of the shiftable clutch member. As a result it is unnecessary to provide i a disengageable connection between the shiftable clutch element and the movable synchronizing member which facilitatesA shifting and likewise reduces the amount of weight or inertia that must be overcome to allow easy synchronization of the clutch `elements and shifting.

It will beunderstood that there can be many modifications made in the construction disclosed above, such as, for example, variation in the structures and mechanisms for promoting the iight frictional engagement between the syn-l chronizing members, and therefore the embodiments described above should be considered as illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims. i

I claim:

1. In a synchronizing mechanismthe combiclutch element into drivingy engagement with the driving clutch-element, and means for maintaining a light frictional contact between the said synchronizing elements whereby the said loose driving connection maintains the said second synchronizing element in blocking position except when the clutch elements are synchronized. i

-4. A synchronizing clutch comprising driving and driven clutch members, one of which is shiftnation of a pair of. clutch elements relatively l shiftable into and out of power transmitting entions for blocking and allowing shifting of a' clutch element, a friction member movably mounted on one o f the synchronizing members, and resilient means urging the friction member able axially into and out of engagement with the other, each of said members having a toothed clutch face for coacting with the toothed clutch face of theother member, and a friction face for coacting with the friction face of the other member, the friction faces being complementally conoidal and arranged to engage in advance of the toothed clutch faces upon axial shifting of the shiftable member, and one of said members having yielding means normally projecting beyond the friction face thereof to engage the friction face of the other member in advance of the full engagement of the friction faces of both members, 'said means being yieldin'gly movable into a position flush with the friction face with which said means is associated as the friction faces of both members are brought into full engagement.

into light frictional engagement with the other of the 'synchronizing `members to retain the means on said second synchronizing member in blocking position` when the clutch elements are not synchronized.

2. In a synchronizing mechanism the combination of a pair of clutch elements' relatively shiftable'; into and out ofpower transmitting. .en-v

gagement, a synchronizing member, nxedly connected to one of-said clutch elements, another synchronizing member movably associated with the other clutchelement, means on said another synchronizing membermovable to positions for 'blocking and'allowing shifting of a clutch ele- Y. engagement, both of the aforesaid means cooperating in maintaining said blocking means in 5, A synchronizing clutch comprising driving and driven clutch members, one of which is shiftable axially into and out of engagement with the other, each of said members having a toothed clutch face for coacting with the toothed clutch face of the other member, and a friction face for coacting with the friction face 4of the other memfacethereof to engage the frictionA face of the other member in advance of full engagement of the friction faces of both I members,A yielding means pressing the shoe outwardly beyond the 'i said friction face and operable to permit said shoe to move into a vposition ush with the friction face with which the shoe is associated as the friction faces of both members are brought into full engagement. i

6. A synchronizing clutch comprising driving and driven clutch members, one of which is shiftable axially into and `out of engagement with the other. each of said members having a toothed clutch face for coacting with the toothed clutch blocking position when -the clutch-elements are not synchronized.

3. In a synchronizing mechanism, the combination of -a-driving clutch element, a driven clutch `element movable into and out of driving engagecomprising a plurality of lugs extending radially from the said driven clutch element, a number,

of slots in the said second synchronizing element adapted to engage the said lugs and being of greater width than the latter to allow limited movement of the said second synchronizing `element in relation to the said driven clutch element to a position for blocking movement of the driven face of the other member, and a friction facefor coacting with the friction face of the other member, the friction faces being complementally conoidal and arranged to engage in advance of the toothed clutch faces upon axial shiftinglof the shiftable member, and one of said members having a shoe normally projecting beyond-the friction face thereof to engage the friction face of 'the other member'in advance of full engagement of the friction faces of both members, yielding means pressing the shoe outwardly beyond the said friction face and operable to permit said shoe to move into aposition flush with the friction face with which the shoe is associated as the friction faces of both members are brought into full engagement, said shoe being arranged in a recess opening through the friction face with which it is DISCLAIMER 2,259,527 .-Keith R. Mano'ille, Highland Park, N. J. SYNCHRONIZING MECHANISM. Patent dated Oct. 21, 1941. Disclaimer filed Aug. 24, 1945, by the inventor; the assignee, Mack Man/@foaming Corporation, approving and consenting.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claim 3 of said patent.

[Oficial Gazette September 18, 1945.] 

